ANN ARBOR -- When it comes to defensive excellence at the University of Michigan, it gets no bigger than Charles Woodson.

Michigan's 1997 Heisman Trophy winner and the key cog in the program's last national title team, Woodson is arguably the best defensive player in college football history, and one of -- if not the -- most decorated players the school has ever known.

So when he takes an interest, or a liking, to a certain Michigan player, that means something.

But it also only revs up expectations, hype and pressure.

Jabrill Peppers, meet all three.

"It was good to talk to him (at the spring game), I met his mother, you could see the confidence just spilling out of this guy's pores, man," Woodson said of Peppers Friday during WTKA 1050-AM's Mott Takeover event. "It was exciting for me to get a chance to share a little bit with him, and meet with him.

A player with more hype than most five prospects combined, Peppers has been called the best prep player in New Jersey's history, one of the most explosive athletes in his class and an expected instant contributor right away in college.

Scouts have said Peppers already has the look and body of an NFL player, and most analysts and experts have compared him -- at great length, fair or not -- to Woodson in terms of his overall skill set.

Peppers played defensive back in high school, but he also played quarterback, running back and wide receiver. He returned punts and kicks. He made an impact on something every time he was on the field.

Woodson knows a little something about that, and he knows what it takes to accomplish it all at a high level.

"This is a guy with all the confidence in the world, and we need that," Woodson remarked. "I'm looking for him to go in there and make plays and just get it done."

Asked what type of pressure Peppers should expect as a ballyhooed freshman this season, Woodson recalled his early days in Ann Arbor, entering school as one of the nation's top-ranked recruits -- an explosive offensive rusher in high school -- and a player who many expected instant contributions from.

He said, for him, outside pressure really didn't mean anything.

He expected that much, and more, from himself -- and knew he could back it up on the field. Will Peppers be able to do the same? Time will tell.

"The thing is, when you know you can play, and I was a gifted athlete and there were some things I just had naturally," Woodson said. "I had a mentality that I was going to go out there and be the best. The expectations people have for you, you already feel like you're going to do those things.

"Those expectations and that pressure doesn't mean anything. The expectations you have for yourself far exceed anything anyone can put on you. That what I would (want) to see Jabrill coming in with that mode, a guy who already sees himself as someone who is going to be great. Anything other people think about him, it'll be below what he thinks of himself. There isn't any pressure when you know you can play. God willing you don't have any injuries, you just go out there and get it done."